Improvement in inhaling-tubes



- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN lNHALlNG-TUBES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,789, dated July 18, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES BULLOCK, of Cambridge, Middlesex county, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Inhaling-Instrument; and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with i the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practice it.

In connection with apparatus employed for the inhalation of gas, etheric vapors, &c., for medical and surgical purposes, mouth-tubes of varied construction are used.

My invention relates particularly to the construction ofthis class of instruments to be used with apparatus for administering nitrous-oxide or other gas for dental purposes; and the improvement consists in the employment of an auxiliary mouth-tube in combination with and so as to slide over the inhaling-tube of the instrument.

A in the drawings represents a central and longitudinal section ofthe tube, taken through the saliva-cup and outlet-valve. B shows an end view of the mouth tube and guard. I

a denotes the pipe leading from the gas-containiugbagor chamber, this pipe opening into a valve-chamber, b, and being separated from the main body of this valve-chamber by a diaphragm,c, having an openingclosed by an elastic disk-valve, (1. While the center portion of this valve closes the opening in the diaphragm when impinging againstit, apertures 6 permit free passage through the pipe at and into the chamber b when the valve is drawn away from thediaphragm, as seen in the d rawiu gs. From this chamber the inhaling-tube fextends, the outer end of said tube havinga mouth-tube, g, surrounding and sliding freely upon the tube f, but packing closely enough upon the said tube to prevent free passage of gas between the contiguous surfaces of the two tubes when the gas is being inhaled.

In the use of nitrous-oxide gas for dental purposes it is well known that its anaesthetic effects are very transitory, and the operators manipulations have to be almostinstantaueous. There is often ateudeucy in the jaws, afterinhalation and when the mouth-tube is withdrawn, to collapse and set together with such rigidity that before they can be forced apart for operation upon the teeth the effect of the gasis gone. I therefore employ the auxiliary mouth-tube g, which remains between the teeth when the tube f is withdrawn and the teeth tend to collapse, holding the mouth open to the extent generally necessary to perform any operation which can be accomplished during the anaesthetic effects ofthe gas. Before the inhaler becomes entirely insensible the lips often open, allowing respira tion of atmospheric airinstead of the gas, which is objectionable. To prevent this a shield, t, may be used, extending around the mouth and fitting the face in such a manner that it is easily held up thereto by the operator, even though the teeth close firmly upon the auxiliary tube, thus preventing ingress of air to the mouth, as will be readily understood. At the top of the chamber 1) is an opening, 70, covered by a valve, h, the space at above the valve opening freely into theatmosphere; and below the chamber is a saliva or moisture condensing cup, I, the lower part of the cup being removable for the purpose of cleaning the same. The diaphragm c and tube a are also removable from the main chamber 1), as is also the cap of the eduction-chamberm, thus permitting free access to the valves and to the chamber b, allowing the whole inner surface of the instrument to be easily washed and kept free from injurious deposits.

The action ot'the valves 61 and It will be readily understood. As the patient respires inhalation draws the valve it down upon and closes the opening k, simultaneously drawing in the valve 01 and causing the gas to flow through the diaphragm and openings 0 through the chamber 0 and tube f into the month, while exhalation closes the valve d over the opening in the diaphragm, preventing passage of the airbreathed from the lungs into the gas-holder, and causing its passage through the opening is, valve h, (raisedby the exhalation,) and chamber m into the atmosphere, any moisture from the mouth condensing and running into the receptacle l, and the auxiliary mouth-tube and shield operating as before explained.

It will be obvious that the apparatus may be used for inhalation of other than nitrous-oxide gases, through such is the specific use for which it is intended by me.

I am aware that a system of induction and eduction tubes and valves have been employed iary mouth-tube, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of March, A. D. 1865.

CHARLES BULLOCK.

Witnesses J. B. ORosBY, F. GoULD. 

